title: Evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma in the third trimester of pregnancy: maternal and fetal considerations.
abstract: With the active life-style of today's pregnant women, the effects of trauma have become an important obstetric concern. A protocol was developed to monitor pregnancies complicated by major blunt abdominal trauma in the third trimester, looking specifically for delayed placental and/or fetal problems. Of the 84 pregnancies studied, the most serious complication was placental abruption. Although abruption occurred in only two cases, one case was associated with a ruptured uterus and fetal death. There were no cases of delayed abruption or delayed fetal compromise. The most common complication was preterm labor, occurring in 28% of cases when the traumatic insult happened before 37 weeks' gestation. Of these 17 patients, 15 were successfully treated with tocolysis. There were no cases of direct fetal injury or Rh-isoimmunization. A revised protocol is recommended for limited outpatient observation with nonstress testing and screening ultrasonography to rule out preterm labor and placental abruption and to document fetal well-being.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of South Florida College of Medicine, Tampa.
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: McClain
authors.forename: A S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Rosemurgy
authors.forename: N M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Colorado
mesh_terms: D000007:Abdominal Injuries / Q000150:complications*; D000037:Abruptio Placentae / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005323:Fetal Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007752:Obstetric Labor, Premature; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications; D011256:Pregnancy Outcome; D011263:Pregnancy Trimester, Third; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014949:Wounds, Nonpenetrating / Q000150:complications*